SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook: the complete school report for parents

What does SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook actually weigh in admissions?

SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook rates 4 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, test scores, the essay. It does not consider 1 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What GPA do admitted students actually have?

70% of enrolled students had a 3.75 GPA or above. The average was 94.48 on a 100 scale, reported for 99.95% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.

What is the SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook waitlist really like?

SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook offered a place on its waiting list to 10,563 applicants and 5,191 accepted one. 3,462 were ultimately admitted. That is 66.7% of those who waited.

Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?

SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook admitted 44.1% of 7,021 transfer applicants, against 48.2% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here. The minimum college GPA considered is 2.8.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook reports its early rounds below.

What does my child need to take in high school?

SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook requires 14 academic units and recommends 19. A college-preparatory program is recommended. A GED is accepted.

What will SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $18,784 a year at SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $7,070. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 59.5% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 1,520 merit awards averaging $3,672 to first-years with no demonstrated need.

What families at each income level actually paid:

46% of SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $25,283 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $193 a month in repayment. SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook pay off?

Graduates earn a median $74,502 ten years after entering, and $59,492 at six years. 85% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 72% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:

A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.

$128,966 to $33,435, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook:

College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.

Will my child actually graduate?

89% of first-years return for a second year. 77% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 80.3% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 75.2% of everyone else, a gap of -5.1 points.

How big are the classes?

39% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 8% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 19:1, and 62% of faculty are full-time. Both are true at once: 8% of sections seat 100 or more, and those are the introductory lectures. Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

What is life at SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook like?

18,615 undergraduates, 11% of first-years from out of state. 71% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 52% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 1.5% of men join a fraternity and 3.3% of women a sorority. 36% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $76,205.

What this means for your student

• Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook recommends 19 academic units.
• 70% of enrolled students are at a 3.75 GPA or above, averaging 94.48 on a 100 scale. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
• SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook rates test scores Very Important, so a score at or above its middle-50 range is close to expected rather than optional.
• The waitlist is live but thin: 3,462 of 5,191 who waited were admitted, about 67%.
• Its highest-earning major returns $128,966 five years out against $33,435 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York at Stony Brook

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